Top prospects Lloyd, Blomenkamp to play soccer at SWIC

BELLEVILLE

The Southwestern Illinois College women’s soccer team will begin preseason drills next month without Alyssa Houck, Meredith Wendt and Claire Stark — all of which graduated after stellar careers with the Blue Storm.

Replacing three players of that caliber is near impossible according to veteran coach Juergen Huettner.

“They were three very important pieces of our team last year and so when we started recruiting, we didn’t go into it thinking we were going to find one certain player to replace Houck or one player to replace Claire (Stark). Instead we went into it looking for a couple of players that could do some of things they did,’’ Huettner said. “So we lost Houck and Wendt. but we were able to bring in Emilie Blomenkamp, an all-state player in Erika Lloyd from Waterloo and McKenzie Dixon from Civic Memorial. It’s the same way with losing a Claire Stark.

“Last year our numbers were good. This year our numbers are good, but we have a much deeper team as well. There is a difference.’’

Lloyd, Blomenkamp and Dixon to bolster Blue Storm offense

Lloyd, one of the top Class 2A players in the state, was also one of the most well-rounded ofdfensive players in the St. Louis area this past season. She finished her senior campaign with 45 points on 16 goals and 13 assists, while Blomenkamp, who played on same team with Houck at Freeburg three years ago, finished her senior year with 49 points on 18 goals and 13 assists.

Along with Dixon and returning players Mikayla McCarthy, Tori Ford, Taylor Buske, Michelle Grotefendt and Kailey Duncan, the SWIC offense should be able to score goals this season.

“On offense we should be very sound. We have a lot of players who can put the ball in the back of the net,’’ Huettner said. “Blomenkamp reminds me of Houck in the way she has good speed and sees the entire field very well,

“Erika Lloyd is a very high skilled player from Waterloo. But the thing that really impressed me was that in one of the games I saw her play, she had one goals and four assists. That shows me she’s unselfish and is a good passer with the ability to distribute the ball.’’

Andrea Dauphin from Belleville (West) is a versatile player who can play either forward or in tme midfield, while another Waterloo player — Sidney Metzger — can and could see playing time on both the offensive and offensive sides of the field.

Alana Giacoletto played at Father McGivney High School but has played for a high level club team while Mary Hagarty from Trenton (Wesclin) is another player who will get looks at both offensive and defense.

Questions in goal and on defense

While the Blue Storm looks to be very strong on offense, the key to its season could be in goal and on defense.

The loss of Stark in the backfield is big, but Huettner has brought in Hannah Lehmann from Freeburg and Emma Gregowicz from Belleville West to help out a solid group of players returning. In goal will be Daisey Contreras from Chicago (George Washington High School) and Esmeralda Alvarado from Rockford (Auburn).

“We thought we had our goaltender until she opted to play college basketball instead,’’ Huettner said. “We like our two goalies though. We saw them on tape and had them come down and workout for us. They both need to improve, but we think they will do a good job for us.

“The keys are on defense and in goal. We think we could be very strong on the offensive end of the field.’’

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Top prospects Lloyd, Blomenkamp to play soccer at SWIC."